Not long ago, Blackmagic Design released version 12.5 of its famous grading software DaVinci Resolve. It’s only been two months, and the company has already unveiled an 12.5.1 update, which contains some very interesting features under the hood: native Quicktime decoding on Windows machines and support for the all-new Sony X-OCN format.
DaVinci Resolve 12.5.1 and Quicktime
The 12.5.1 update doesn’t add as many new features as the 12.5 release did (please refer to our article on that release), but it contains some very promising features under the hood. On Windows machines, you will no longer need to have Quicktime installed if you want to decode ProRes *.mov files. Now, that’s huge! A while ago, Apple announced to cease support for Quicktime on Windows (see our article), so this development is a much needed step towards native Quicktime handling without the need of installing outdated (and therefore vulnerable) Apple Quicktime libraries just for that purpose.
However, there seems to be one confusing UI glitch. You can set the “optimized media” to ProRes encoding, but you won’t be able to output ProRes files as a delivery format. It seems to be just a UI thing, actual ProRes encoding still demands for installed Quicktime libraries on Windows. Please refer to the Blackmagic Design Forum to read about this issue. Maybe the next major version of DaVinci Resolve will solve this whole Quicktime issue once and for all? IBC is around the corner, at least…
Sony’s Future of RAW, the X-OCN Format
With its brand new “bolt-on” AXS-R7 recorder for the Sony F5 and F55 cameras, the Japanese company has started exploring a new era of RAW recording. The X-OCN (eXtended Original Camera Negative) promises to preserve the full 16Bit latitude of the sensor while achieving a much smaller footprint in terms of bitrate (read all about it in our previous post).
Sony F55 with attached AXS-R7 recorder module
Blackmagic Design did a pretty good job in quickly adapting to this development, as DaVinci Resolve 12.5.1 already supports this new format natively.
Full List of Features
As always, the update comes as a free download for both the regular version as well as for the studio version. Here is a list with all the improvements and upgrades in this new DaVinci Resolve 12.5.1 release:
Edit Improvements
Improved 2-up and 4-up, multicam and playback performance when using QuickTime ProRes on Windows
Added menu items to allow selection of clips based on Flag, Marker and Clip colors on the edit timeline
Added ability to import and export duration markers using EDL
Added the ability for clips to snap to their own markers when adjusting In and Out points
Improved consistency of edit functions when Timeline is in full screen mode
Added support for box wipe mode for offline reference wipe
Added ability to extract AAF import log information as timeline markers
Color Improvements
Improved performance for Spatial Noise reduction in Better mode
Improved listing of attached and timeline mattes in the node graph with support for alphabetical listing
Added ability to apply grades from a reference wipe using the viewer context menu
Added ability to align keyframe timelines of color grades using playhead position and wiped still frame
Next node and previous node operations now loop around the node graph
The ‘displayed’ node graph now automatically updates when the current still is changed
Swapping nodes now also swaps the node labels
Rippling grades now also copies node labels, Power Window labels and node cache settings
Shift Up + Next Still will now append grade from the current still on the advanced control panel (Studio version)
Added support for left eye and right eye grades for the timeline node graph (Studio version)
Added ability to convert a mono timeline into stereoscopic 3D (Studio version)
Added ability to convert a mono clip into stereoscopic 3D (Studio version)
Added support for sequence and node render caching for stereoscopic clips and timelines (Studio version)
Added compensation for stereoscopic slip when exporting timecodes in ALE (Studio version)
Added support copying DolbyVision grades using stills and middle click (Studio version)
Improved 3D and Qualifier panel layout in dual screen mode
Improved behavior to stay on the same frame when joining two clips
Resolve FX Improvements
Added ResolveFX Generate Color (GPU accelerated)
Added ResolveFX Tilt-shift Blur
Added support for anamorphism in ResolveFX Lens Blur (Studio version)
GPU acceleration support for ResolveFX Lens Flare (Studio version)
Ability to adjust Shadows/Midtones/Highlights in ResolveFX Film Grain in all compositing modes (Studio version)
GPU acceleration support for ResolveFX Emboss, Waviness, Vortex, Ripples, Dent, Mirror
Improved ResolveFX Scanlines and added various composite modes
Ability to view the ResolveFX Scanline layer without the background
Improved border behavior for ResolveFX Gaussian Blur, Directional Blur, Mosaic Blur, Radial Blur and Zoom Blur
Added support for horizontal/vertical ratio in ResolveFX Glow
Added support for pan and tilt on ResolveFX Prism Blur
Improved performance for ResolveFX Light Rays
Improved performance for ResolveFX JPEG Damage
Media Improvements
Added new Import Media options to File menu and Media Pool context menu
Added support for stereoscopic 3D clips in Media Management (Studio version)
Added support for display drive names in Media Storage on Windows
Addressed issues with open file location from Media Pool on Linux
Added Source Name tag support for filename without extension
Added support for automatically setting pixel aspect ratio for anamorphic ARRIRAW MXF clips
Codec & Format Improvements
Added support for ProRes decode on Windows
Improved QuickTime decode and encode performance on Windows
Support for UHD H.264 renders on Windows
Improved QuickTime decode and encode performance on Linux
Added support for HEVC (H.265) decode on Linux
Added support for alpha channel in DNxHR 444
Added support for the Sony X-OCN format
Added support for various AAC encode parameters on macOS
Added support for QuickTime AAC audio encoding on Windows
Added support for encoding QuickTime Photo JPEG files
Added support for decoding AVCHD files from the Sony NEX-FS700 camera
Added support for V-Gamut in RCM for improved Panasonic camera image handling
Added ARRI LogC to Linear and Linear to ARRI LogC LUTs in VFX I/O
Addressed decoding of last frame in some Panasonic AVCHD clips
Improved handling of AVCHD .MTS clips
Added support for RED SDK v6.2.1
General Improvements
Alpha-numerical listing of codecs and format in the Deliver and Media Management pulldowns
When running DaVinci Resolve in window mode, the mac OS dock is now visible
Improved latency for remote grading (Studio version)
Improved handling of dissolves and overlapping clips in DolbyVision metadata export (Studio version)
Improved behavior when creating render jobs on locations without write permissions
General performance and stability improvements
Source: Blackmagic Design

It’s official! Quicktime for Windows is no longer supported by Apple. What does this mean for all the filmmakers out there who rely on the ProRes line of codecs?
Security holes in Quicktime for Windows
Nowadays, many cameras are capable of recording to the popular ProRes codec in various flavors. The codec is being used widely throughout the industry due to its robust set of features and its capability of being integrated flawlessly within a wide range of workflows. Every major NLE system can handle the *.mov file containers.
Two weeks ago, the security company Trend Micro published an article in which two major security flaws were uncovered. The article came along with an “urgent call to action” to immediately uninstall QuickTime from Windows machines to maintain data security.
According to Trend Micro, there are two primary reasons for their vigorous statement, first:
Apple is deprecating QuickTime for Microsoft Windows. They will no longer be issuing security updates for the product on the Windows Platform and recommend users uninstall it. Note that this does not apply to QuickTime on Mac OSX.
More importantly:
Second, our Zero Day Initiative has just released two advisories, ZDI-16-241 and ZDI-16-242, detailing two new, critical vulnerabilities affecting QuickTime for Windows. These advisories are being released in accordance with the Zero Day Initiative’s Disclosure Policy for when a vendor does not issue a security patch for a disclosed vulnerability. And because Apple is no longer providing security updates for QuickTime on Windows, these vulnerabilities are never going to be patched.
Apple’s official statement
And now, Apple have confirmed to the Wall Street Journal that they are not going to support Quicktime for Windows anymore. So what does all this mean for us as filmmakers? Well, it is quite a shock, because as of today you end up having two options as a Windows user:
1) Uninstall Quicktime – the safest option, but you’ll end up having no chance to play back or edit ProRes files anymore
2) keep Quicktime – shouldn’t be an option. Only do this if you have no alternative or if you are finishing a ProRes project as we speak
Solutions and workarounds
If number one is an option for you, then you should switch to a different codec right away, such as DNxHD or DNxHR. The problem lies in the fact that many modern cameras record to ProRes. Not quite as many are capable of recording to DNxHD/HR. So there should be a swift response from the industry, too. Red, for example, offers a free update for their whole lineup of cameras which unlocks recording to DNxHD/HR.
Red offers DNxHD/HR as a free update
Adobe did make an announcement on that very issue, too. It is a bit confusing, though. They recommend uninstalling Quicktime for Windows. On the other hand, they also admit that some core functions of their Creative Cloud suite may be affected by doing so. Hopefully, they can come up with some solution very soon.
Conclusion
The seemingly small step for Apple to discontinue Quicktime for Windows could turn out to be a significant leap for the camera and filmmaking industry. Hopefully, the manufacturers will come up with—and provide—some solutions quickly. Red is a good example that others should, and will hopefully, follow.
For now, make sure to run an anti-virus scan on your Windows machine and think twice when handling Quicktime movies on Windows machines!
Please Note: The link to Wall Street Journal points to a subscription based article. However, the first paragraph tells you nearly everything that you need to know.
UPDATE
As you can see, there is a vivid discussion going on in the comments on this matter. It seems that only the Quicktime player for Windows as well as the web components such as browser plugins are affected by these security flaws. NOT the ProRes codec itself. So, it should be safe to work with Quicktime encoded files as long as you solely use the codec (within a NLE), not the player or browser plugin. However, you should be cautious when handling Quicktime files on Windows machines.
Thanks to Patrick Zadrobilek, PiDicus Rex and all the others for contributing! Check out Patricks article on this.